In Plaka, beside the Roman Agora, this museum traces Greek folk music through instruments collected by musicologist Fivos Anoyanakis. The collection spans the 18th century to the present, with around 600 instruments on display and more in storage. Move through the three floors to see flutes, lutes, drums, bells and the bouzouki, then use headphones and audio recordings to hear how instruments sound. English and Greek descriptions help put the objects in context. It is a focused stop for music lovers and families curious about traditions from across Greece.
A collection gathered over decades
The museum is named for Fivos Anoyanakis, a musicologist who spent decades collecting folk instruments. His collection includes around 1,200 instruments dating from the 18th century to the present. Around 600 are displayed; others remain off view.
The instruments come from different parts of Greece and represent a wide range of musical traditions. The collection includes pottery drums, flutes, shawms, long-necked lutes, guitars, mandolins, bells and the bouzouki. Instruments are grouped by type and material, so the displays invite you to compare their forms as well as their sounds.
Listen as you explore
Headphones and recordings let you hear the instruments rather than viewing them in silence. Audio examples include the gaida, a Greek goatskin bagpipe, and other sounds associated with regional musical traditions. The recordings also make it easier to notice how music from the Greek islands differs from that of Greece’s mountainous north. Descriptions in Greek and English accompany the exhibits.
The museum occupies the Lassanis Mansion, a 19th-century house near the Roman Agora. Its three floors make for a compact visit that fits naturally into a walk through Plaka. Live music performances are sometimes held in the garden courtyard during summer.
FAQ
Where is the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments?
It is at Diogenous 1-3 in Plaka, Athens, beside the Roman Agora.
How long do you need at the museum?
Allow about 30 to 60 minutes to explore the exhibits and listen to the recordings.
Can you hear the instruments at the museum?
Yes. Headphones and recordings let you hear examples of traditional instruments.
Are there live performances at the museum?
Live performances are sometimes held in the garden courtyard during summer.
